Comments about ‘BYU basketball: Brandon Davies' absence is huge on the inside’

Teams that rely on outside shooting like BYU will sometimes hit shooting slumps
that run for several games... you just knew this would eventually happen to
them. The question is how quickly will they be able to pull themselves out of
the slump?

I think that it became obvious last night that Davies played a key role on two
accounts: 1.) He is the key to offensive entry when he sets the high post pick
and roll with Jimmer and is a threat to hit the foul line jumper and 2.) He
played a huge role in controlling the middle of the Cougar zone defense that has
been so effective. Hopefully with some additional time to practice these two
issues can be adjusted, but most importantly the team needs some confidence
back...hopefully playing Wyoming is just the medicine we need!

UNM totally out-hustled BYU. BYU didn't rebound and they let their frustrations
overtake their game. Hopefully there's a big kid that can rebound out there
that wants to play for BYU, because the big guys there now don't want to.

The refs didn't call a very tight game and they let both teams just
play. It was pretty physical in the beginning. But thats how the ref's call it
in the NCAA tourney. Without an abundance of fouls being called, Jimmer's game
is cut down and others need to step up.

Wyoming hustles. They go 100%
all the time and they pound the boards. I hope BYU will prepare for that. Jimmer
and Emery need to calm themselves and focus.

when you miss a lot of shots the other team gets a lot of rebounds and when they
do not miss many there are not many rebounds to get. We will miss Brandon. But
we now need to redefine who/what we are and move on. Team and fans.

Brandon is quick, smooth, good
footwork, good hands, and has a variety of moves to score with his back to the
basket. On defense he's a great rebounder and shot blocker and helps control the
paint. His biggest weakness is he's a bit of a foul magnet.

Anderson
reminds me of a tall, gangly teenager, who still hasn't grown into his body, and
can barely walk and chew gum at the same time. He has absolutely no footwork,
he's slow as an ox, and he has hands of stone. Decent shot blocker, but poor
rebounder because he can't hold onto the ball.

This isn't the same
team without Brandon, but the Cougars still have the talent to make a deep run
in the tournament. Without Brandon, however, their margin for error is
significantly smaller.

Davies being removed would not have been as bad if Chris C were still around.
Losing their 2 best post players in the same year definitely hurts. Abuou is
good, but lacks the size. Hartsock is good, but can't play both the 4 and 5 spot
at the same time. Anderson need some work, and Magnusson is not good. This may
turn into another one and done year at the NCAA's without any frontcourt.

NM shot better than usual and BYU was much worse. That lead to more rebounds
for the Lobos. BYU was shocked due to Davies loss and NM took advantage as they
should. BYU will play better than this, just a question of will it be enough.
Beat the pokes.

Jimmer is
getting double- and triple-teamed and fouled on almost every shot attempt. It's
the job of the rest of the players to hit open shots when Jimmer draws two or
three defenders, then passes the ball to an open teammate.

For 99.9%
of college basketball players, 33 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, and 4 steals,
with only 3 turnovers, would be a career night, regardless of the shooting
percentage.

The four guys that BYU needed to step up to fill the void of Davies absense
didnt get it done. Hartsock and Collinsworth were both held scoreless, Rogers
had just 3 points and Abuouo finished with 8 on 1 of 6 shooting. These guys need
to spend some time after practice working on their shots and find their touch
and quick. Fredette is gonna continue to get doubled and even triple teamed at
times so guys will have open looks and they have got to start knocking them down
when they do.